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Summary: A fascinating biography of a natural mathematical genious
Review: A must for anyone interested in the history of mathematics. A self-tutored Hindu boy from southern India is discovered and mentored by two of the most famous mathematicians of his day. Deep mathematical knowledge is not necessary to read and enjoy this fine book. As a side note, I understand that there was a BBC television program on Ramaujan's life entitled "An Indian Clerk". If anyone knows a source for a tape of this, I would be very interested.
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Summary: Very well written Biography
Review: A very inspiring and well written biography. Anybody with little mathematics background can read this book. Thanks Robert for presenting us such an excellent work.
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Summary: Outstanding Biography
Review: An exemplary piece of biographical writing. Kanigel brings Ramanujan, his times, and his contemporaries vividly to life. I wish even more of Ramanujan's mathematical contributions had been treated, but appreciate that a biographer has many priorities. Kanigel handles them all deftly. One of the finest (most informative and engaging) biographies I've ever read.
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Summary: Outstanding Biography
Review: An exemplary piece of biographical writing. Kanigel brings Ramanujan, his times, and his contemporaries vividly to life. I wish even more of Ramanujan's mathematical contributions had been treated, but appreciate that a biographer has many priorities. Kanigel handles them all deftly. One of the finest (most informative and engaging) biographies I've ever read.
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Summary: Inspirational account of the life of a Mathematical genius
Review: An Inspirational account of the life of a Mathematical geniusSrinivasa Ramanujan is rightly a member of the Mathematicians' Hall of Fame. From humble beginnings in the small town of Kumbhakaon in Tamil Nadu to the hallowed cloisters of Trinity College, Cambridge, this magnificent book narrates the story of Ramanujan's trails, tribulations and triumphs. Central to the story are the powerful influences of Ramanujan's mother and the great English Mathematician, Godfrey Harold Hardy. If his mother, Komala shaped the first part of Ramanujan's life, then surely Hardy must take full credit for bringing Ramanujan's prodigious talents to the attention of the world Mathematical community. Other prominent characters also figure in the story - notably Ramanujan's many friends, Narayana Aiyer, Gopalachari, leading lights in the Indian Mathematical establishment, members of the ruling British classes, Sir Francis Spring, the Governor of Madras Presidency, and Cambridge Mathematicians, Neville and Littlewood. The book presents a touching portrait of Ramanujan the man: an orthodox Vaishav Bhraman, steeped in Hindu culture with all the attendant characteristics of a deeply spiritual outlook, a calm self-assurance about his abilities, and most of all, an obsession with Mathematics. Hardy, his mentor, is also biographed as the passionately atheist, Winchester educated son of a middle class schoolmaster who went up to Cambridge, and at the turn of the 20th century, almost single handed masterminded the rise of English Pure Mathematics.
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Summary: A book to be re-read and re-re-read
Review: Apart from a really absorbing insight into the esoteric world of pure mathematics this book provides a wonderful picture of two widely different societies - Southern India and Cambridge in early 20th century. It also raises many thought-provoking questions about the mind of a genius and how educational systems may or may not help people who have such unusual minds. A book to treasure and go back to time and again.
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Summary: Never have read a more enthusiastic biography
Review: Easily one of the most enjoyable books I have read so far. Mr. Robert Kanigel is probably one of the few intellects who has seen precision, poetry and pricelessness in the works of Ramanujan to have been so deeply passionate and moved, and successfuly makes the poignant biography get the feel of a graceful story. Mr. Kanigel succeeds in enveloping the legend of the collobaration between Ramanujan and Hardy with emotions that must have been so charactestiric of the priceless and sincere yet an impersonal association between the two mathematicians. I was totally immersed in the book and have never felt such involvement all at the same time for the author, the protagonists and the cultures of that period! Could it be that topics that mystify one make one turn out such great writing. I am not sure. For me, one who abhorred Math up until the reading of the book (in one sitting) I feel biographies can be difficult to consume let alone write unless I find the author fully immersed into it completely, and spiritually as well. Mr. Kanigel is all that. Personally, I have come to believe contrary to Mr.Kanigel's one emotional observation, that extreme geniuses like Ramanujan, Einstein or Bach are all occurrences of some rare dynamics of the times in which they lived. God will bestow in the genius powers to make himself apparent and so, it is not reasonable to believe that of the many born in poverty like Ramanujan, a few may have had the potential to be a genius but poverty struck them down? A Genius will be in control of himself and his circumstances, and he or she will show up somehow and strive to live as long as possible needed to give what he has to give. So many thousand element, not ordinarily occurring, have to be right in the birth of a genius and one deteriorating circumstance like poverty is what stirs the concoction! So much you may see a Bach or Ramanujan or Ilayaraja once in 300 years or thereabouts. That is what I think is the probable!
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Summary: If you are curious to look into a genius' mind..
Review: I admit that I bought this book primarily because I come from the same geographical location in India that Ramanujan was raised in.
The book gives a detailed account of Ramanujan's childhood in India. His conservative upbringing, his first encounter with the Math book that changes his life forever.
The book then goes on to describe the tribulations that Ramanujan faced in India owing to the fact that he did not have a college degree. It took a world-class mathematician (Hardy) to discover Ramanujan. One cannot help but think what would have happened to Ramanujan if Hardy hadnt recognized potential in this young genius. Overall, this book is a great read. It does delve into Mathematics where required, but you neednt be a whiz kid to crack through those pages.
Happy reading!
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Summary: Sincerly written-Great tribute to the Genius
Review: I always wanted to know the contributions done by Ramanujan to Mathematics and landed up on this book. I could not imagine such a thorough work on this genius mathematician, his environment,his time, circumstances, troubles, and an undying spirit depicted so well. I am surprised at the authors understanding of nuances of an Indian society which is an important background to appreciate what a genius undergoes to further his cause. Author is very objective in all his assessments and that helps the reader to come to some of his own conclusions. In effect this is a wonderful read for anyone who is interested to know about this Genius and if one is a bit mathematically bent, this is sure to provide ,well, an infinite surprise and joy
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Summary: Who'd have thought I'd like a book about math?
Review: I am not a math whiz. I am not even South Asian. But I loved this book. The story is very compelling, and the math is approachable (I even found myself doodling little formulae, like how to derive the area of a circle...). If you're interested in the story of a very unique man, this is a good place to start.
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